Amber Ruddy speaks at Radio Calgary

Amber Ruddy, the director of Provincial Affairs with the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) in Alberta, talked about the province's minimum wage hike and its impact on Alberta's businesses. Ruddy said that small business owners are very concerned about this recent hike. Half of the Alberta businesses say that they are going to be increasing their prices, many say that they are going to reduce their expansion plans, which means it will hit future jobs. Ruddy said that according to CFIB’s recent report, employers are facing about $11,000 increase annually per entry-level, minimum wage job under the NDP government. She also said that CFIB hasn't seen too many promises made by this government to the business owners, except 1 percent cut in taxes. CFIB continues to call on the AB Government to release economic impact analysis related to raising the minimum wage to $15 and show how it will reduce poverty as claimed. When asked if she attributes the increased wages to an increase in job postings, Ruddy said that if you look at the whole economic picture, immigration and many other factors fit into this equation. You can't pinpoint the rise of the minimum wage to the job creation. (03/10/2018)